Things to do in the Midwest

Looking for interesting Places in Minnesota to visit this year?

Below it's our top three:

1. Minneapolis MN

If you are visiting Minnesota and are planning an urban-type vacation, Minneapolis MN boasts many attractions such as visiting museums, taking a segway tour of downtown Minneapolis MN and enjoying a bit of shopping at the Mall Of America, which is also a hotspot for finding nightlife in the city.

2. Duluth MN

If you are planning an affordable family vacation in Minnesota, Duluth MN is one of the most popular summer vacation spots in the Midwest for travelers looking to enjoy the outdoors.

Things to do for fun in Minnesota while on vacation

Apart from being surrounded by pristine forest scenery, Duluth MN is located by Lake Superior where you can find cabin rental opportunities and enjoy fun water activities by the Lake.

3. Rochester MN

Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions

Rochester MN is located on the southeastern part of the state near the border with Iowa and Wisconsin. Rochester MN is actually not far from Minneapolis MN, and it is a great destination if you’re looking to enjoy a city vacation in a more relaxed atmosphere. Apart from city attractions, Rochester MN has many urban parks and it is located near a couple of state parks and lakes where you can enjoy a bit of hiking and fishing.

See. Places to visit in the Twin Cities

Facts about Minnesota

These are three of the most interesting places in Minnesota this year. If you're traveling to the state for the first time, you want to check out some interesting facts about the state:

- Minnesota is commonly known as the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State and the ‘North Star State’

- Minnesotans is the name for residents in the state of Minnesota

- The name Minnesota comes from the Native American word ‘Mnisota’, which means ‘muddy water.’

- The highest mountain in the state is Eagle Mountain, standing at over seven hundred meters.

- Lake Superior is the largest and deepest lake in Minnesota.

- Minnesota is bordered by North Dakota and South Dakota in the west, Iowa in the south, Wisconsin in the east, and the Ontario Canada in the north.

- Minnesota is characterized by very cold winters and hot summers.

- The Mississippi River divides the cities of Minneapolis and St.Paul

- There are over seventy state parks and over fifty state forests in Minnesota

- Minnesota has a large population of German and Scandinavians outside of Europe

- Bloomington's Mall Of America is the largest shopping complex in the state

- There is no sales tax on clothing items

- The Minnesota State Fair is the second largest in the United States, after State Fair of Texas.

- Minnesota is home to the largest student-run newspaper in the US, named the Minnesota Daily.


- Minnesota has some of the most important high-tech companies in the US as well as medical facilities such as the Mayo Clinic

When to go

I hope you found these Minnesota facts interesting. I feel these facts really a good idea on what to expect when planning a vacation to the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’ State. If you are planning on doing outdoor pursuits such as hiking and biking, I would suggest traveling to Minnesota in early spring (March-April) and early fall (September-October), as weather is most pleasant.

For fishing and water pursuits, early summer is one of the best times to visit Minnesota for this, as the hot weather is not completely in full swing. There are many interesting places to visit in Minnesota but as mentioned above three of the most popular places to head for a vacation this are Minneapolis MN, Duluth MN and Rochester MN.

See. Interesting places to visit in Nebraska
Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin
things to do for fun while visiting Iowa
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in North Dakota
Top Canadian Tourist Attractions
Interesting places to visit in South Dakota

Things to do in the Midwest

Here it is a list of my favourite vacation Spots in the Midwest:

Dayton Ohio

Popular for its metro parks, Dayton OH is a top destination for families looking to enjoy many outdoor recreational activities and outdoor pursuits such as fishing, hunting and camping at the nearby Hueston Woods and Caesar Creek state parks. (see places to visit along Lake Erie Ohio)

Kansas City

A Kansas City vacation offers a mixture of both cultural and outdoor attractions. From the popular Worlds of Fun Amusement Park to sporting events and music festivals such as ‘Jazz in the Woods’, Kansas City boast attractions to suit every taste.

Rochester Minnesota

Rochester Minnesota is another popular destination for families with kids and the city boasts both city and out-of-city attractions. For instance, for fishing and canoeing opportunities you can head to Lake George, which is not far from downtown Rochester.

Indianapolis Indiana

If you are motor racing fan, Indianapolis Indiana is home to the famed Motor Speedway and Hall of Fame Museum. Also, if you enjoy state fairs, the city is home to the Indiana State Fair every August where you can enjoy fun exhibits and interesting competitions.

Michigan

The state of Michigan is, hands down, one of my favourite vacation spots in the Midwest because of the pristine scenery and the many interesting places to visit in Michigan such as visiting the lighthouses in Ludington. (see best Beaches on Lake Michigan)

Upper Midwest Tourist Attractions

If you love the outdoors, and looking for amazing areas to explore on a backpacking trip, you'd love Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This region is filled with lovely waterfalls, majestic forests and plenty of natural hiking trails.

Midwest Quick Facts

- Midwestern States are known as the ‘Breadbasket of America’ or the ‘Heartland of America’, due to the fact that more than 40% of the United States crops are grown in this region.

- Midwest cuisine foods consists of hearty meals such as stews accompanied by wheat bread or cornbread.

- The Midwest is characterized by long stretches of flatland and abundant natural resources

- The Midwest accent is the sound most commonly used by TV news broadcasters

- More than a quarter of US Presidents were born in the Midwest

- Midwestern States include North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.

- The state of Michigan was the birth place of the automobile, and it is here where you’ll find the Henry Ford Museum.

- Minnesota alone is home to over 10,000 lakes

Vacation Spots in the Midwest: Overview

The Midwest is an outdoors enthusiast paradise boasting many hiking and biking trails, and lakes ideal for kayaking or canoeing tours.

In fact, Midwestern states are also home to some of the best destinations in November for leaf-peepers looking to enjoy the fall foliage.

Midwestern States are also popular for romantic weekend getaways and family vacations. If you’re traveling with kids, the Ozark Mountains are a great spot for an affordable family vacation offering camping, water activities and wildlife opportunities.

Places to go in Michigan in the summer

Apart from outdoor pursuits, the Midwest offers plenty of city attractions if you wish to enjoy an urban-type holiday.


For instance, if you’re looking to enjoy city attractions such as museums and educational places, look no further than Wichita Kansas, Branson Missouri or Chicago Illinois.

In particular, I would suggest visiting Chicago. Apart from being the largest Midwestern city, downtown Chicago attractions are varied and plentiful.

Wisconsin Dells, in the state of Wisconsin, is also a popular destination and it is one of the most popular vacation spots in the Midwest for a summer getaway in the city.

Wisconsin Dells is not only home to the largest outdoor Waterpark but it is also home to a great variety of indoor water parks to choose from.

If you're looking for a destination in the Midwest that offers a nice historic atmosphere as well as recreational opportunities, look no further than Lake Geneva which is one of the most interesting places to visit in Wisconsin.

See. Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin
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Places to visit in the Twin Cities
places to visit in Milwaukee
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Wisconsin
Things to do in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Things to do in Lake of the Ozarks MO
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Click here for more Destinations in Midwest Region

Summer vacation spots in Wisconsin

Janesville Wisconsin is located in the mid-section point between the borders of Illinois, Iowa and Michigan.

If you are traveling to Janesville Wisconsin for the first time, the city is home to a wealth of parks, greenbelts, lakes and open spaces where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as canoeing and picnicking.

There is really a lot of interesting things to do in Janesville Wisconsin and if you fancy exploring other nearby cities, Janesville is only a 50 minute drive from fun things to do in Madison WI.

If you’d like to explore the state of Illinois, the town of Galena and downtown Chicago attractions are only a couple of hours drive from Janesville's City Center.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Fun Activities

City Parks Activities

The city of Janesville Wisconsin is nicknamed the ‘City of Parks’. The city boast more than 50 parks, paved trails as well as open spaces offering plenty of recreational opportunities such as picnicking, canoeing and biking.

If you are planning to do canoeing, you can find a few boat launches at Kiwanis Pond and Lions Pond. However, the Janesville Parks Department only opens these between the warmer months (spring and summer).

Three of the largest parks in Janesville Wisconsin include:

* Rockport

* City of Janesville-Palmer Park

* Prairie Knoll Park

Fishing, Camping & Canoeing

If you are looking to enjoy camping, fishing and water activities in a more natural scenery, the Swenson Wet Prairie State offers miles of hiking trails and angling opportunities.

Sugar River Park also offers hiking opportunities as well as a boat ramp for launching canoes or boats.

For camping out, the popular Crazy Horse Campground is only located 20 minutes away by car from Sugar River Park.

Apart from camping, Crazy Horse Campground also offers hiking trails, canoe rentals and other camping amenities.

Cycling Tour

As mentioned earlier, the city of Janesville Wisconsin features miles of paved trails and parks where you can cycle at your leisure.

However, if you are planning on renting bikes or tour the area on bike, Wisconsin is home to the popular Brodhead-New Glarus Sugar River State Trail.

This paved trail spans 23 miles across the Sugar River and through a few prairie remnants where you can enjoy a bit of wildlife spotting.

Cheese Factory Tour

Taking a tour of a cheese factory is another of the popular things to do in Janesville Wisconsin, and it is definitely worth adding on your itinerary.

If you are planning on touring any cheese factory, most of these cheese factories are small run family businesses so it is worth calling in advance.

A couple of cheese factories that you can visit include:

* Wenger's Springbrook Cheese Inc, located near Sugar River Park (tel (815) 865-5612‎).
* Silver Lewis Cheese Factory, located near Albany (tel.(608) 938-4314‎)

Winery Tour

If you fancy sampling fine Wisconsin wine, you can add a winery tour to the list of things to do in Janesville Wisconsin.

Two of the nearest wineries to the City Center include:

* North Leaf Winery, located in the town of Milton, it’s north of the city center (around 10 minutes by car), and offers daily tastings.

* Staller Estate Vineyard, located in Delavan, it’s west of Janesville’s center and it is also a short drive by car (around 30 minutes).

Ice Skating

If you love ice skating, Janesville Wisconsin is home to the Janesville Ice Arena ice rink, which is opened all year around. It is located along Beloit Avenue (between Jeffries Park and Lions Park).

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Places of Interest

Lincoln-Tallman Restorations

If you want to visit the house where President Lincoln spent a few days before he was elected president a year after, the Lincoln-Tallman Restorations is open for public viewing between October and December.

Rotary Botanical Gardens

If you love plants and flowers, the Rotary Botanical Gardens are a great place to stroll around exploring the immense variety of plant species. These gardens are located in Lions Park, adjacent Kiwanis Pond.

Milton Historic House

If you are interested in 19th century architecture, the nearby town of Milton is home to the fame Milton House, which was the first building in the USA to use grout to embed the rebars in the walls.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Shopping

The shopping scene in Janesville Wisconsin is varied and you’ll find a range of small shops and superstores such as the Wal-Mart Supercenter.

Janesville Wisconsin also has a few discount stores such as Big Lots and Dollar Tree Stores located along Milton Avenue.

For retail shopping, the Janesville Mall shopping center offers a great variety of shops and department stores.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Nightlife & Entertainment

Janesville Wisconsin is home to a myriad of pubs and bar/ clubs where you can enjoy a nice drink as well as some kind of live entertainment.

Downtown Janesville is where you will most of these bars. For instance, along N Main Street you can find bars such as the Main Street Saloon, Quotes Bar & Grill and Legends.

Things to do in Janesville Wisconsin: Events & Festivals

Southern Wisconsin AirFEST

If you are traveling to Janesville Wisconsin in late May, you can catch the popular the popular Southern Wisconsin AirFEST, which showcases jet plane acrobatics and demonstrations.

Rock County 4-H Fair

The Rock County 4-H Fair is the oldest in the USA and it is a great family-orientated event where everyone can have a good time. It happens in late July and features live entertainment, contests, and fun rides.

Tallman Arts Festival

The Tallman Arts Festival is another popular cultural event in the city and also happens in July. It features live entertainment and plenty of artistic exhibitions.


See. places to visit in Milwaukee
Top 10 Tourist Attractions in Wisconsin
Places To Visit In Door County
Places to visit in Oshkosh